BOAT SHOWS - Riviera's new models at US show

Australian luxury boatbuilder Riviera says it is fervently awaiting the 51st annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (October 28 to November 1) where it will launch three new models.

Riviera’s US release of the new 43 Open Flybridge, the 5800 and 5000 Sport Yachts is expected to be extremely well received by the US market, company officials said.

Riviera Yachts USA Inc director, Chris McCafferty said the 5000, 5800 and 43 Open Flybridge had received exceptional results in other markets, with the 43 selling 16 boats since it was released in late May proving the popularity of this new flybridge design.

The boatbuilder claimed people are travelling across the globe to view the 5800 Sport Yacht at the Fort Lauderdale show. With 14 retail sales achieved since it was released in 2009, Riviera expects it to impress US crowds.

"Riviera is really looking forward to the show and is extremely optimistic of strong results given the universal acceptance of these new models since their launch," said McCafferty. "The combination of these exciting new world-class models and new additions to our dealer network will put Riviera in very good stead in the US as the boating market continues to recover."

Riviera CEO, John Anderson said the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show would make a convincing statement to the US market following the challenges faced by the marine industry in the midst of the Global Financial Crisis last year.

According to Riviera, the past 12 months have been a challenge for the whole boating industry, but it has embraced change and faced the challenge head on, releasing new models all bearing the company’s hallmark styling and multi-award winning build quality.

"To have sold 40 new boats over the past eight weeks between the Sanctuary Cove and Sydney shows is a tremendous result for the Riviera brand, our loyal owners and our dedicated staff and dealers," said Anderson.

"In June 2010, the company announced it had officially exited Administration, so our focus is clearly directed to rebuilding the business and making it even stronger.

"We have 400 people onsite right now building boats and we are actively recruiting new staff. Our global sales for the first half of 2010 have increased by 17 per cent, resulting in an average sales run-rate of two-and-a-half new boats per week since the 2009 Fort Lauderdale Show.

"Riviera has introduced a new production line and commenced a recruitment drive for new staff to assist with the ramp-up of production to meet the growth in new-boat sales.

"In the US, Riviera is extremely well-known for our range of Flybridge boats but this year Fort Lauderdale will pave the way for us to be equally well-known for our innovative Sport Yacht range, which is expanding Riviera’s appeal because of the allure of this design to the cruising market," he said.

Photos: The 5800 Sport Yacht has impressed boat owners across the globe; The single-level living and functional galley is a feature of the 5800 Sport Yacht; The 5000 Sport Yacht features a striking European design; The 5000 Sport Yacht with Zeus drives has superior performance; The new 43 Open Flybridge is a real head turner, says Riviera; The 43 Open Flybridge's luxurious saloon opens out to an oversized cockpit; The 43's open flybridge gives 360 vision.